used to be

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He said the "infant sleep industry has boomed... as the support that used to be provided by the state has been stripped back."

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Supporting the U.S. team used to be the default for American soccer fans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

"It used to be somewhat hard to make these things. Now anyone can do it in seconds," said Brian Long, chief executive of Adaptive Security, a company offering trainings on AI fraud protection.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

“There used to be a lot of barons but now he’s the only guy,” Kuper said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

A man emerged at the doorway in nothing but shorts, a bloated belly overhanging the open top where a button used to be.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo